Color: The only accepted color is sepia brown in an agouti-ticked pattern. This means that most of the individual hairs on the cat have alternating bands of the dark sepia brown and a warm old ivory ground color. The muzzle, chest and underside of the cat are the light color only with no ticking. Like all tabbies, they have some darker lines accenting the face.

Grooming: Because of its very short, close-lying coat, the Singapura needs no grooming other than lots of petting. Don't forget to routinely trim the nails.

Best Home: This breed is adaptable to a variety of lifestyles, but it does need attention. Adults who can give a lot of love are essential. Children's activity is welcomed if they have learned to be gentle. Another cat for companionship is a good idea. They are not afraid to start training even the largest dog.

National Breed Club: International Singapura Alliance

Personality: Singapuras are very active cats with a genuine need for their people. They are curious and very intelligent. There is no door or drawer a Singapura cannot open. A good supply of toys is essential, although they will often create their own. Without noticing it, you most likely will find that the cat has subtly trained you to do things its way.

Appearance: The Singapura's small size gives it a deceptively delicate appearance even though the body should be moderately stocky and muscular. Males and females generally weigh between 5 and 8 pounds when fully mature at 2 years old. The first feature people usually notice is the angelic face, with its huge, beguiling eyes and large ears. The head itself is rounded with a broad muzzle and blunt nose. Legs are muscled and taper to small oval feet.

Color: Body color ranges from glacial white to pale fawn. Seal, blue, chocolate and lilac are the four point colors accepted by purists. Red, cream, tortie and lynx (tabby) points are created by outcrossing to other breeds; some associations classify these cats as the Colorpoint breed.

Grooming: Many enjoy a good brushing but basically maintain themselves. Frequent petting keeps loose hair to a minimum.

Best Home: Anything, as long as it involves lots of contact with people.

National Breed Club: Siamese Internet Cat Club; www.meezer.com

Personality: Intelligent, highly social, and demand to be part of your daily activities. Very vocal. Enjoy interaction with adults, children and dogs. Although busy and clownish, they enjoy a good cuddle.

Appearance: Long, tubular body with long, fine-boned legs and a long, whippy tail. Wedge-shaped head with large, flared ears. "Traditional" variety has more-robust body and rounder "apple" head with smaller ears. Coat is short and close-lying; "traditional" cats generally have thicker coats. Sapphire-blue eyes set at a slant.

Color: Ocicats come in all the colors associated with the parent breeds: tawny, cinnamon, blue and fawn from the Abyssinian; chocolate and lavender from the Siamese; and each color on a silver background from the American Shorthair.

Grooming: The short, satiny coat requires no special grooming. Frequent petting will help to remove dead hair and leave the coat shiny.

National Breed Club: Ocicats of North America; www.abcs.com/catoninetail/ona

Personality: Exotic in looks only. Intelligent and easily trainable, this breed adapts well to homes with dogs and other cats. They travel well and are not bashful with strangers. Ocicats thrive on human interaction and therefore do not do well in homes where they are left alone for long periods. They talk like a Siamese but do not have the same raucous voice.

Appearance: A large, athletic cat with an extremely muscular body. The head is a gently curved wedge with a squared muzzle and broad nose, much like the ocelot it mimics. The coat is short, with a satin sheen that shows off the pattern. Spots on the body are shaped like a thumbprint and ideally scattered randomly over the body. Classic, or marble, patterns occur in Ocicat litters but are not showable. Like any other tabby, there are stripes on the legs, rings on the tail and vest buttons on the belly, as well as dramatic facial markings. All markings should be clearly defined against the lighter background color.

Color: Most associations accept all colors and patterns except those derived from Siamese (color points), although some recognize these as well.

Grooming: Double coat of the shorthair does best with occasional brushing. Longhair needs weekly combing and benefits from regular bathing.

Best Home: Sometimes cautious of strangers, Manx like to interact with their family. They do well with dogs and children if introduced at an early age.

National Breed Club: International Manx & Cymric Society

Personality: Lively, entertaining and inquisitive. Will often collect small objects. Soft voices with quiet trill. Appreciate tall scratch posts.

Appearance: Powerfully built cat with deep, broad chest. Back rises in arc to round, tailless rump. Broad head with firm, round muzzle and prominent cheeks. When viewed from behind, shape of the inner edges of ears resembles a rocker on a cradle. Longhaired (Cymric) and shorthaired varieties.

Color: The short, close-lying coat is "rain-cloud gray" tipped in silver for a shimmering effect.

Grooming: Like most shorthaired cats, the Korat requires very little grooming other than petting and occasional brushing to remove loose hair.

Best Home: Korats are an excellent choice for people who live alone, although they will bond strongly to other cats and even dogs. Korats love to be physically close to their chosen people.

Personality: This moderately active cat has strong likes and dislikes. It can be very territorial and will make a faithful, if demanding, companion. A heightened sense of hearing makes the Korat very sensitive to surrounding activities. Owners say Korats have a sense of humor and love to play with almost any toy.

Appearance: The muscular, compact Korat weighs from 4 to 10 pounds and has a broad chest. Inside the heart-shaped outline of the head, a second heart can be traced from the chin, over the ridges of the eyebrows, dipping back down to the bridge of the nose. The nose should have a lion-like downward slope in profile. Oversized eyes are a luminous peridot green.

Country of Origin: Japan

Color: A wide variety of colors and patterns are accepted, but the most popular are the dramatic markings of the calico (mi-ke) and black/white.

Grooming: Shorthaired Japanese Bobtails require very little grooming other than petting. They shed very little, mostly in the spring. Longhairs may benefit from an occasional brushing to keep the ruff and leg britches looking good when in full coat.

Best Home: Active and unafraid of chaos and noise, the Japanese Bobtail makes an ideal cat for a family with busy children. Breeders recommend that Japanese Bobtails always have a companion, whether a cat, dog or some other pet. They can get into trouble if bored.

Personality: This playful, social cat demands interaction. The cat will want to participate in all family activities. They are stable, not high-strung, and will show affection to family and friends. The cat produces quiet chirps, hums and meows. A born retriever, Japanese Bobtails love a good game of fetch.

Appearance: The Japanese Bobtail is a medium-sized cat; females weigh approximately 6 pounds and males approximately 8. The lean and muscular body should never have the tubular look of the Oriental or Siamese. Legs are long and slender with the taller hind legs carried at a deep angle so the back appears level. Every cat has a unique tail, which can have any combination of curves, angles and kinks, but may not exceed 3 inches in length. The tail is movable at the base and can be very expressive. High cheekbones and a distinct slant to the eyes complete the chiseled Oriental look. The coat can be short, soft and silky or semi-long with britches and a neck ruff.

Color: Solid colors only. CFA - the Havana Brown is accepted in Brown only. TICA - refers to breed as Havana and accepts both Chocolate and Lilac colors

Grooming: Unless you plan to show your Havana Brown, it will require very little formal grooming. A good diet will keep the coat shiny and the cat will take care of bathing. A weekly grooming with a rubber brush will help prevent hairballs.

Best Home: Havana Browns love to follow their humans wherever they go. A sudden crash that might send other cats diving for cover will bring the Havana to investigate. Outgoing and playful, they enjoy a good game of tag even as adults. They do well as only cats, and they can get rather possessive of their person. Breeders find they fit well into the household of the busy professional.

National Breed Club: International Havana Brown Society; www.havanabrown.org

Personality: This sociable, affectionate and intelligent companion instinctively knows when to give and when to demand attention. It is quiet and gentle with a soft voice (most of the time). The Havana Brown often uses its paws to investigate by touching and feeling, as well as using the "wounded paw" technique to elicit sympathy. Quick, agile and playful, this cat thrives on human companionship.

Appearance: Two features separate the Havana Brown from any other breed. The first, and most obvious is a glistening mahogany-brown coat. Medium short and close lying, it glows with reddish highlights and should be sound to the roots. (TICA accepts lilac Havanas.) The second feature is a distinctive "corn cob" muzzle that appears added to the skull rather than flowing from it. Unlike any other breed of cat, the whiskers are the same brown as the coat. The cat's medium-sized body should be firm and muscular but not tubular like a Siamese. Males tend to be larger, weighing 8 to 10 pounds, while females average 6 to 8. Large, oval green eyes give the cat a sultry look.

Color: The exotic shorthair exhibits in a variety of coat colors including: white, blue, black, red, cream, lilac, chocolate, chinchilla silver, shaded silver, blue chinchilla silver, blue shaded silver, chinchilla golden, peke-face red, shaded golden, blue chinchilla golden, blue shaded golden, shell cameo, shell cream, shaded cream, shell tortoiseshell, shaded tortoiseshell and several others.

Coat: The desired coat is dense, plush and stands away from the body due to the thick undercoat.
Personality: A bit livelier and more inquisitive than the Persian, Exotics share many of the Persian's gentler personality features.

Appearance: The Exotic's body and head-style match that of the Persian.

Color: A loose pouch of skin just before the hind legs allows for extra extension in running and jumping. Accepted colors for show are silver, bronze and smoke, although black and blue do occasionally occur and make lovely pets.

Grooming: The Mau coat is fairly short and nearly maintenance free. Comb to reduce shedding because vigorous brushing can remove the spots on the ticking at the end of the hair shaft. A soft chamois or silk scarf gives a nice polish to the coat.

Best Home: The ideal Mau owner pays attention to the cat and gives it lots of special playtime. These cats usually make excellent travelers and are easily leash-trained. Maus know the names of their toys and fetch them when asked. Make sure children know how to properly handle cats because Maus tend to disappear when faced with uncomfortable situations.

National Breed Club: National Egyptian Mau Club

Personality: Maus demonstrate extreme intelligence and fierce loyalty to their families. While gregarious and interactive, they can express shyness with strangers. They love human companionship, but on their own terms. When happy, Maus often express themselves using little chortling sounds and wiggling their tails. Moderately active, Maus love to play with moving things. They have been known to steal judges' toys and refuse to relinquish them.

Appearance: The Egyptian Mau is the only naturally occurring spotted domestic cat. The spots can appear large or small, but must be randomly placed and distinct from the lighter background color. Dramatic tabby markings include the "M" on the forehead and mascara lines from the eyes to the cheeks. Legs and tail sport multiple bars and rings. At least one necklace adorns the chest area. The cat's body possesses the lean and elegant lines of the cats in Egyptian paintings. Females range from 6 to 8 pounds, while males can weigh up to 12 pounds. Eyes are a gooseberry-green in color.

Color: Chausies' shorthaired coats are recognized in the three colors of the Jungle Cat: brown ticked tabby, called "golden" by breeders, which can range from light tan through tawny and mouse gray to a deep yellow brown; solid black; and silver-tipped black, a striking and unique color found on no other exotic or domestic cat. Markings, seen only on the ticked cats, are limited to a bit of black leg barring and tail rings.

Grooming: The Chausie's short coat requires little more attention than an occasional bath and brushing. Regularly trim the claws.

Best Home: In general, Chausies manage fine with other cats, and dogs as well, but they aren't an ideal choice for people with very young children, lots of precious breakables or a low tolerance for mischief.

Personality: Highly affectionate and active. Chausies demand attention and reward it with obvious affection. Highly intelligent with feral grace and agility. Their antics can be enormously entertaining, but their high energy level can be exhausting.

Appearance: The Chausie, which has also been called the Nile Cat because of its ancient Egyptian heritage, retains the tall, leggy, long-bodied look of its Jungle Cat ancestor; the lean, agile physique of an athlete. The medium-size, gently wedge-shaped head features a long, square muzzle and strong chin. Prominent ears set upright and are wide at the base, tapering to slightly rounded points, which ideally are topped with longer hair tufts, giving the Chausie a wild lynx look. Chausies have long-muscled legs built for running, and their large, powerful hindquarters attest to their tremendous leaping ability. Tails can range from the preferred three-quarter length of the Jungle Cat, which has fewer vertebrae, to full length. Chausies are large cats, typically weighing 16 to 20 pounds and sometimes reaching 16'' at the shoulder. Females generally run one-third smaller.

Color: All colors and patterns, as well as both longhaired and shorthaired varieties, are accepted for competition.

Grooming: The Shorthair Munchkin coat has a medium-texture, "all-weather" coat requiring little grooming. Longhairs have a silky, semilong coat with a medium undercoat and can have substantial ruff at the neck and breeches on the hind legs. Like any other semilonghair cat, they benefit from a bath.

Best Home: These fun and funny cats get along well with other cats, dogs and people.

National Breed Club: Get Down Munchkin Breed Club; www.ticastephens.org/munchkin.htm
Personality: Friendly and self-assured, this "regular cat" is more affectionate and people-oriented than the average domestic.

Appearance: While short of leg, the Munchkin must be a normal size cat in all other respects, with its body approximately 40 percent longer than its legs are tall. The head is a broad wedge with a slight stop in the profile from nose to forehead. Medium- large ears flare to complete the moderate wedge. The legs are muscled and not bowed.

Country of Origin: France

Color: Any shade of blue-gray, from ash to slate, with the tips lightly brushed with silver.

Grooming: Despite the coat's thickness, it requires little maintenance. Running your fingers through the fur removes loose hair from the thick undercoat. Owners often comb the cat more for interaction than grooming.

Best Home: Chartreux generally adapt to any lifestyle. Their days combine short energy spurts and mellow relaxation. "I often find my cats laid out on the floor sound asleep," says Mary Ann Sweeters, CFA Breed Council secretary for the Chartreux. "They have a tendency to play at full speed for 15 minutes and then they just crash." While they can be "couch potatoes," they are not necessarily lap cats. They enjoy interaction with people and develop favorite games such as "fetch."

Personality: Owners often find themselves negotiating an agreement with these intelligent cats about behavior. These friendly and devoted cats tend to pick a favorite person and form strong bonds with the family dog. Although Chartreux communicate in squeaks and chirps, they can create a large, rumbling purr.

Appearance: The robust body features a broad chest and relatively fine-boned legs. The broad head, with powerful jaws and pronounced cheeks, terminates with a small, tapered muzzle. Blue remains the only acceptable color for this cat, although it may vary from light ash to deep slate. The mature adult should have a silver-tipped, woolly, dense coat. The eyes should be brilliant orange.

Color: Ruddy, red, blue and fawn
Coat: Ticked, richly colored tabby coat without markings on legs, tail and neck, but with dramatic facial markings.
Grooming: The Abyssinian's resilient, silky coat makes grooming a breeze. An occasional bath and brushing should suffice. Routine dental checkups are also recommended.
Best Home: Abyssinians are social cats. Some form of companionship is highly recommended.
Personality: Active, intelligent and loving, Abyssinians breathe life into any household. They're loyal, love a good shoulder ride and are apt to teach their owners to play fetch.
Appearance: Abyssinians dazzle observers with "ticked" fur that glistens with bands of color, particularly in sunlight. Lithe and graceful, these elegent cats are often described as a happy medium between the cobby body type of the American Shorthair and svelte Siamese.

Young kittens by the time you get him, say by 10-12 weeks should be fully weaned. Give your kitten milk for some more time to meet calcium needs till he settles on a balanced good quality diet. As he grows older his ability to digest lactose decreases so reduce its milky feeds or he may suffer from diarrhoea. Kittens have small stomachs and they will be able to eat only a little at a time. So daily intake should be split into a number of small but frequent meals. Two or three meals a day at set intervals is a good pattern. By six months, they should settle on two meals per day morning and evening entirely on solid foods. The amount they need will vary individually with each kitten. Feeding according to demand should be the rule.

A cat can be fed a maintenance or adult diet once it is 10 months to one year of age. An adult cat with normal activity requires only a maintenance diet- enough to maintain a good body condition. A healthy cats body condition is one in which the animal is well proportioned with an observable waist behind the ribcage, and ribs which are not clearly visible but that can be felt with a slight fat covering over them.

Cats require a higher level of dietary protein in their food-about twice as much as dogs- and at least one-third of their diet should consist of animal protein. They require the addition of taurine to their diet. A good diet is rich in fat, which the cat's digestive system is equipped to cope with easily. Commercially prepared cat foods are available from shops as dry food, moist (canned) food and semi- moist food. Dry food is easier to serve and won't spoil if left out for the day. It's also considerably cheaper. Also these foods exercise the cat's teeth and gums. Be sure to choose age specific food for your growing or adult cat. You could feed your kitten commercially prepared food with small amounts of other fresh foods like cooked meat, fish and eggs, cheese, liver (raw or cooked) in small amounts etc. Adequate supply of clean water at all times is essential for your cats survival. A typical cat requires about 150-200ml of water a day. Moist or canned foods usually contain about 60- 85% water, so cats on a canned food diet require less water but those on a dry food diet will require to drink more.

You have to make a decision whether you are going to confine your kitten indoors or allow him outside at about eight to nine months of age. It depends upon the type and temperament, some long haired breeds like Persians may be suited well for indoor living while other more active and independent breeds may become frustrated by indoor confinement. But kittens or older cats allowed outside should always come indoors to sleep, eat etc. In the initial stages, one can entice them indoors with food such as fish until it is established that home is where the food is.

Cats, are believed to be first domesticated by the ancient Egyptians over 8,000 years ago around 2600 BC. They were later venerated as a sacred animal and were even mummified by the Egyptians when they died. It was only in the 19th century that the first pedigree (with a family lineage) breeds were developed. In fact, more than 300 breeds and varieties are recognised now, the main distinguishing characteristics being head shape and the length of hair.

The Domestic cat is one of the 38 species of the cat family or Felidae. They are the descendants of maybe three or four of the wild Felidae species, foremost of which is the Felis silvestris lybica or the African Wild cat. Besides the Pedigree and non pedigree domestic pet cats, there are the Working cats kept for their rodent catching asbility and the Feral cats, the descendants of cats which at one time have been domesticated at least to some extent.

Cats are very independent among the pets, living by their own set of rules. But they need and value companionship and make wonderful pets.These quiet creatures groom themselves and come in a wide variety of colors, coats and generally placid temperaments. Most of them are best suited to indoor as well as outdoor life. You can make a good relationship with these pets and develop mutual understanding, tolerance and respect.

Loyal and gentle with his owners and with children, he is reserved with strangers. He is highly trainable.



Other Names - Schip.

Native - Belgium.

Height - 10 - 13 inches.

Weight - 3-8kg.

Colour - Black, but the undercoat can be slightly lighter. Outside the USA other solid colors are permissible.

Coat - Abundant and dense, with longer hair on the neck, shoulders, chest and back of rear legs.

Temperament - Alert, loyal.

Life Span - 15years.

His distrust of strangers makes him an excellent guard dog.



Other Names - Suomenpystykorva, Finsk Spets, Loulou Finnois.

Native - Finland.

Height - 10-11 inches.

Weight - 14-16kg.

Colour - Reddish-brown, red gold on back, preferably bright; lighter shades permissible on the underside.

Coat - Short and close on head and front of legs, longer on body and back of legs, semi-erect and stiff on neck and back.

Temperament - Lively, vocal.

Life Span - 12-14 years.

A dog of a largeof a large white short haired breed with dark spots. Name from Dalmatia, a region in Croatia. He has a great stamina and rarely barks and is somewhat distant toward strangers, making him a good watchdog.



Native - Former Yugoslavia.

Height - 22 - 24 inches.

Weight - 24-25kg.

Colour - Pure white with black or liver brown spots.

Coat - Short, fine, dense and close.

Temperament - Alert, energetic, athletic.

Life Span - 11-13 years.

A dog of a Chinese breed with long hair and bluish- black tongue. The Chow Chow is an independent, loyal and dog breed who makes an excellent guard dog.



Other Names - Chou.

Native - China.

Height - 18 - 22 inches.

Weight - 20-32kg.

Colour - Black, red, blue, fawn and cream.

Coat - Rough, abundant, dense.

Temperament - Alert, independent, strong-willed.

Life Span - 12 - 15 years.

Determined, strong and sturdy, yet affectionate and loving, the Boston Terrier is one of the most popular dogs.



Other Names - Boston Bull Terrie.

Native - United States.

Height - 10 - 16 inches.

Weight - 4.5-11.3kg.

Colour - Brindle with white markings, black with white markings.

Coat - Short and smooth.

Temperament - Lively, intelligent.

Life Span - 10 - 12 years.